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Parker wrestlers make a statement

BELOIT — No doubt about it.

After a one-point loss to Beloit Memorial cost Janesville Parker High’s wrestling team the Big Eight Conference dual meet title a year ago, the Vikings made sure it didn’t happen again.

Thanks to six pins, including a critical fall from Alex Craker at 275 pounds, the Vikings flattened the Purple Knights on Tuesday night, 50-27. Parker fell behind 27-17 after the 215-pound match, but picked up four pins, a major decision and a forfeit in the last six matches to pull away.

After a 31-30 loss to the Purple Knights a year ago, longtime Parker coach Ron Cramer was glad to see the season get off to a rousing start.

“We haven’t won anything yet, but it was a great start for us,” Cramer said.

“Those kids didn’t need me tonight. My assistants did a great job of getting them ready, and they went out got the job done,” said Cramer, who missed the first two weeks of practice following hip surgery.

The match started at 135 pounds, and the Vikings wasted no time jumping out to an early lead. Juniors Travis Rucinski and Josh Lindass picked up first-period pins at 135 and 140, respectively, to give Parker a 12-0 lead.

After defending conference champion Jose De La Barra got the Knights on the board with a pin at 145, Parker’s Cody St. Michael made it 16-6 with a 16-6 win by major decision at 152.

The defending dual meet champion Purple Knights surged ahead by 10 thanks to wins at the next four weight classes, but Craker quickly changed the momentum with a second period pin. The senior trailed 3-2 midway through the second period, but caught Kyle Hayden in a throw and eventually pinned him at 3:56.

“I was really trying hard to throw him the entire match, and when I finally sunk it in, I went for it and got him down,” Craker said. “Once I got him down, there was no way I was letting him up.”

Craker’s win cut the lead to 27-22, and after Adam Cavey received a forfeit at 103, the Vikings took the lead for good at 28-27. Ryan Riley and Evan Cavey picked up back-to-back pins at 112 and 119 to give the Vikings an insurmountable 13-point lead with only two matches left.

“We knew it was going to be a tough match, but we had to come out and prove a point as a team,” Evan Cavey said. “It was a tough loss to them last year, but now we can forget about it.”

PARKER 50, BELOIT 27

103—Adam Cavey (P) won by forfeit; 112—Ryan Riley (P) pinned Nate Metz, 2:41; 119—Evan Cavey (P) pinned Terrin Owens, 3:43; 125—Brennan Casey-Schmidt (P) major dec. over Curtis Hartley, 19-5; 130—Brandon Zeilinger (P) pinned Josh Swedlund, 1:02; 135—Travis Rucinski (P) pinned Josh Swedlund, :54.

140—Josh Lindaas (P) pinned Luke Wilson, :32; 145—Jose De La Bara (B) pinned Alex Perkins, 1:45; 152—Cody St. Michael (P) major dec. over Miguel Montes, 16-6; 160—Brandon Dallman (B) dec. David Arndt, 14-8; 171—Jesse Swedlund (B) pinned Alex Fetting, 3:57; 189—Tayler Goodyear (B) won by injury default over Jacob Bailey; 215—Alex Polizzi (B) pinned Matt Houchin, 1:05; 275—Alex Craker (P) pinned Kyle Hayden, 3:56.

 Starting weight—135.